Paracord Bracelet Instructions: Best DIY Bracelet Patterns

Paracord bracelets, belts, necklaces, etc. became very popular in the past years. And there’s a perfect reason for that. They are super handy, you can attach any survival tool on them and can draw them out almost in a blink of an eye. Also, they are nice to make – it requires some time to learn to do all those complicated and not so complicated knots, but in the end you’ll feel the satisfaction – you made something yourself and it’s going to serve you well.

Paracords are extremely durable. It takes a lot to cut or damage a paracord and this is why they are so widely used for such items like bracelets and necklaces. Once you get the hang of it, you can use your imagination and make almost anything using paracord and some knots. Some people have made bags, pouches, wallets, and many other items that can be of use when in the great outdoors. We have a great article on the wide range of paracord projects you can make by yourself so don’t forget to take a look.

In this article we’ll show you several ways and knots for making a bracelet.

Paracord survival bracelet instructions

We’ll begin with the fishtail survival bracelet. To start off you need around 12 feet of paracord, if you want to produce a bracelet of 7.5 inches. And of course, to have it a bit loose for some added comfort, you’ll end up with up to 9.5 inches.

Take a lighter or matches and melt the two ends of the paracord. Use clips or something similar to press the ends after heating them. This will prevent them from unraveling.

Next, prepare a bracelet buckle and thread the cord through both buckle ends. When you do that, always try to keep the paracord straight. It often tends to twist while you manipulate it and tie knots and so on, so when you thread it through openings, loops, buckles, etc. use one of your hands to straighten the paracord, and try to untwist it.

As you made the first tying at one buckle end, then proceed to the second one. When that’s done, thread the two ends again through the first buckle end. You’ll have total of four parallel cords overall between the two buckles. Now, repeat this same technique and make two more parallel cords, so now you’ll have total of 6 parallel cords going through both buckle ends – two pairs should be above, and one pair below. It’s time to start weaving.

It’s going to be pretty simple so there are no fancy interweaving techniques. You should have the two free cord ends on the top buckle. If not turn the buckle ends so that you have the cords to the top – you’ll be weaving from top to bottom.

Take the right-hand cord and thread it through the middle – right between each three parallel cords. Pull the free paracord all the way to the left, horizontally. With your other hand fix any twists of the cord. Pull hard so the intersection is tight. Take the left-hand cord and do the same. Thread it through the middle of the vertical parallel cords and pull all the way to the right. Tighten the intersection.

Again, take the right free cord, pull through the middle and tighten. Do the same with the left just like above. You have to keep doing this all the way to the end of the bracelet’s length.

When you come to the end, to make sure that all the weaving is tight and won’t ravel easily, you need to take the two cords, and pull them through the last horizontal knot, when you made the first paracord attachment on the bracelet. Use a thin clipper to pull them through. Then cut the ends at an inch from the tight knot and burn the ends using a lighter or matches.

If you need to see how this is done, go through this quick and easy-to-follow video instruction on Fishtail Paracord Bracelet on Youtube.

If you need more help, we have a great article on the various paracord knots and how to make them.

Here is another weave technique called Dragon’s tongue.

Take a long enough paracord – length can be similar as in the above tutorial – about 12 feet or less. Interweave them just like in the previous instructional tutorial – attach the paracord to one end of the buckle and then thread through the other end. Adjust the length of the bracelet itself and weave the cord’s ends one more time through the first buckle end. You should have two pairs of parallel cords. Again, fix any twists before you move on.

So, begin by taking the right free cord and place it behind the entire bracelet – perpendicular to the length of the bracelet. Then take the left free cord and thread it above the two middle cords and below the outermost cords to the right side. Pull that cord to tighten it and arrange it to stay close to the buckle. Now take the cord, which you placed below all of the cords. Now we’ll reverse the threading order – this one should be below the two middle cords and below the outermost cords. It will go from left to right.

Now again, you’ll have two free cords next to each other. Take the topmost, place it over the other and it goes below the outermost cords and above the middle two. Pull it through to the left side. Now take the second free cord (which is still on your right side) and it goes below the middle cords and above the outermost.

You should be able to pick the pattern and keep proceeding with it until you reach the second bracelet buckle. Throughout the bracelet’s length, always try to keep the cords in nice order and remove any twists.

As you reach the end, you’ll notice that the bracelet itself feels tight and solid, but the cords attached to the buckle will feel a bit loose. So, to tighten that last part, thread the right cord through the buckle on the right side, from below. Do the same with the left cord to the left side, from below and pull. It will be easier to proceed if you turn the bracelet to 180 degrees so the final part is on the top part. Now tighten the knot as you make two loops and thread the loose ends through the loops.

And finally, as you probably can guess, you have to cut the cords and burn the ends.

For more details you can watch this video on making a Dragon Tongue paracord bracelet on Youtube.

Another great weaving pattern is the Slithering snake. Here’s how to do it.

Begin with attaching one end of the bracelet buckle to the cord (just like in the previous two instructions). Then thread the two cords through the second bracelet buckle and spread the free cords apart from the bracelet itself. It’s easy to manipulate them that way.

Take the right cord and make an inch in diameter loop and swap the cord to the right – keep it above the bracelet. Hold the loop with your thumb. Take the other free cord (it’s also to the left), place it over (and perpendicular) to the loop cord and move it below the bracelet and thread it through the first loop you prepared. Tighten and arrange the knot.

Then, take the cord to the left, position it on top of the bracelet and prepare the right cord to stay below the first cord and perpendicular to it. Thread the right cord through the loop made by the left cord you swapped. So, basically, the right cord is the loop and the left cord is threaded through. Tighten that knot and place the cord with which you made the loop to the left. You should have again one left and one right cord.

Again, swap the right cord on top of the bracelet. As you see the pattern, the cord should literally slither in a zigzag pattern being parallel to itself. Take the other cord and make a loop through the right cord you just swapped. Again tighten.

Always use the slithering cord as a guide as to how to proceed with the weaving. If you repeat the steps described above you should have a bracelet with a ‘slithering snake’ pattern to it. And remember, the slithering cord should always be on top and the looping cord should exit from below.

As you reach the end of the bracelet you can do the finishing knot we showed you in the previous tutorial – make two loops and thread the opposite cord through the corresponding opposite loop. As you tighten you’re ready to cut with scissors the cords and burn the ends.

And here is a great Slithering snake bracelet YouTube tutorial on each step of the above instructions.

The Sharkbone survival bracelet also has a nice and harmonic pattern, so here are the instructions about it.

Begin by preparing your bracelet buckle and secure one of the buckle ends with a self-tie of the paracord. This should be exactly how you did it in the previous tutorials (and as shows in the video). Thread the two free cords through the second buckle and spread them aside. Take the left cord and thread it from below between the two bracelet cords and prepare a loop. Take the right free cord and again thread it between the two bracelet cords and through the left loop. It should look like you’re trying to tie your shoes by making the first tie.

Now, tighten well the knot and you’ll have the two free cords with reversed positions. You’ll have to do the same tie, but you’ll begin with the right cord this time (although it’s basically the same, but since it just swapped its position).

So, thread between the bracelet cords, prepare the loop, pull the other cord in between and through the loop. Tighten.

Proceed weaving this pattern by beginning with the left, then right, then left, and so on. You should get the idea. At the end of the bracelet, make the two loops you always do when you finish weaving a bracelet, as explained in the above tutorials – two loops and through each loop you thread the opposite cord. Tighten well enough and you’re ready to cut the ends and burn them.

You can see the entire Sharkbone video tutorial available on Youtube for more details and explanations.

For the Sawtooth paracord bracelet here are the instructions to follow.

Begin as usual – thread and tighten one of the bracelet buckles and thread them through the second buckle. Straighten all twists and irregularities on the cords. Determine the length of the bracelet by measuring an existing bracelet you have or just use a measuring tool for approximate length. Always give it an inch or two for more space. If it’s too tight on your hand this will impair the blood flow.

So, begin with the first bracelet buckle – the free cords should come from above so you can weave from top to bottom, just like before. Take the two cords and thread both through the middle of the bracelet and twist them inside of the middle. Pull them through the opposite sides. Then repeat the same process.

Since there isn’t actual knot throughout the bracelet’s length it may be a bit loose at the beginning, so try to keep it tightened as much as possible and always try to arrange the cords so they are well ordered and there are no twists, or they will distort the pattern.

When you come to the end buckle, you may find it a bit hard to twist both cords through the middle, so better do it one at a time. You should be already familiar with the overall pattern and weaving technique.

At the end, there’s no need for any special finishing knots, so just cut each cord and melt its end. Cut at an inch or two from where the cord is threaded, so that when you melt it you can press it to the inside of the bracelet and it will be fused and ‘sealed’ to the bracelet.

One more time, here a great Sawtooth bracelet on Youtube.

One really beautiful pattern is the Riggers’ Summit, which we’ll finally show you.

You need two paracords this time. First begin with one of them and make an easy loop through the bracelet’s buckle and tighten it around itself. Prepare two loops with the free cords and thread them through their own loops. Keep the loops very loose.

Now take the second paracord and thread it right through the two loops. The middle of the second paracord should be right where the buckle is. Tighten the loops one at a time. The loops’ own cords should come towards you, not below the bracelet.

Take the first cord you used for the basis of the bracelet and prepare another loop to the right side, then thread the cord through the middle of the bracelet and position it to the right. Do the same with the left cord. Always place them below as you prepare the loops.

Then take the second cord’s ends and make a ‘circle’ with them, by crossing the two cords and swapping their places. Reorder the first cord’s loop so they stay parallel to the second cord’s circle. This will make it easier for you to weave next. You should see the two initial loops within the circle. Take the first cord’s right end and thread it through the right loop, so it goes also through the circle. Repeat this with the left first cord’s end and thread it through the left loop and circle.

Now you can tighten the whole knot by pulling all the cords carefully. You’ll see that the second cord had swapped places with the first cord. Now you have to make the two loops again, but using the second cord (use appropriately colored cords so you don’t get confused). Prepare the left and right loops and set the circle with the first cord. Again, thread the right cord through the right loop, and the left cord to the left loop. Tighten. You’ll see this may seem confusing and complicated at first, but as you repeat it several times you get used to it pretty quickly.

For the finishing know, please refer to this YouTube video, where you can see both weaving the Riggers’ Summit paracord bracelet weaving, and the ending knot. And when you’re done with the final knot’s loops you can safely cut the cords and melt them. Press the heated edges to flatten and secure them in place.

There is a huge amount of knots and weaving techniques on the internet, and not only that, but when you get used to weaving paracord items, you can start experimenting and trying new knots, loops and weaving patterns.

About the Author

Samuel Funt

Samuel is a prepper with over 15 years of experience. Samuel is excited to share his knowledge and the things he learns while travelling in British Columbia, Canada where he lives and around the world.

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